Centering and stabilizing apparatus for a combined washing machine and extractor



y 10, 1962 J. A. CASTRICONE 3,043,435

CENTERING AND STABILIZING APPARATUS FOR A COMBINED WASHING MACHINE ANDEXTRACTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1957 lNVEfl/TOR JOHN A. C145TR/C ONE ATTORNEYS Z'Fi .1

ly 1962 J. A. CASTRICONE ,0 3,

V CENTERING AND STABILIZING APPARATUS FOR A COMBINED WASHING MACHINE ANDEXTRACTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 10, 1957 r-IO I IV VE N TOR JOHNA' cAs'm/colvs ATTORNEYS y 0, 1962 J. A. CASTRICONE 3,

CENTERING AND STABILIZING APPARATUS FOR A COMBINED WASHING MACHINE ANDEXTRACTOR Filed July 10, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H8 1 3 INVENTOR //2 I44JOHN A. CASTR/CO/VE 1* BY WW,

I46 I42 ATTORNEYS y 5 .1. A. CASTRICONE CENTERING AND STABILIZINGAPPARATUS FOR A COMBINED WASHING MACHINE AND EXTRACTOR 5 SheetsSheet 5Filed July 10, 1957 INVENTOR JOHN A. CASTR/CO/VE ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent CENTERING AND STABILIZING APPARATUS FOR A CGENED WASHIPJG MACHINEAND EX- TRACTGR John A. Castricone, Peoria, 111.,

signments, to American Motors Corporation, Detroit,

Micln, a corporation of Maryland Filed. July 10, 1957, Ser. No. 670,9746 Claims. (Cl. 210363) The present invention relates generally towashing machines and more particularly to a combined washing machine andextractor of the type utilizing a bottom supported tiltable spinassembly incorporating improved means for centering and stabilizing theoperation of the machine. This application is a continuation-in-part ofmy copending application Serial No. 488,359, filed February 15, 1955(now abandoned) and assigned to the assignee of this aplication.

Bottom supported tiltable spinning assemblies have been employed inwashing machines and extractors and such devices have utilized dampingand centering means consisting primarily of a rounded surface formed onthe bottom of a stationary tub and a complementary shaped roundedsurface on a journal member surrounding the shaft means of the spinnerassembly. In this particular form of device, it is customary to providea plurality of circumferentially spaced centering springs which areconnected between the journal member and the bottom of the stationarytub. It is usually intended in such a structure that the springs developa centering function. In other words, at least a substantial componentof force exerted by the springs will be directed in such a fashion andthe springs will be so angularly aligned as to assist in retaining theshaft in upright vertical position.

Being of the bottom support type, such a spinning assembly partakes of aspinning action which is gyratory in nature. For example, if the spinassembly is rotated with an uneven load located therein, an eccentricwobbling occurs which results in changes in tension in the centeringsprings. If the spin assembly is displaced in one lateral direction, onespring is collapsed and the spring assignor, by mesne asdiametricallyopposite it is placed under increased tension.

It has been observed that under such circumstances the wobbling actionis apparently aggravated by the springs since the springs appear to havethe effect of storing energy which, when released, actually forces thespinning assembly laterally away from the vertical spin axis.

According to the principles of the present invention, a combined washingmachine and extractor has been provided wherein the centering anddamping apparatus completely eliminates the utilization of theconventionally provided centering springs.

Briefly described, according to the present invention, the entire spinassembly is supported at a bottom bearing to facilitate rotation oftheshaft on its end support. A journaling bearing means or journal memberis located at an intermediate portion of the shaft means. However thejournal member does not support the spin shaft. It is merely relativelystationary with respect thereto.

Between the basket of the spin assembly and the bot tom support, thereis provided a means for resisting the tilting movement of the tub which,more particularly, comprises three vertically stacked annular discmembers which are arranged concentrically outwardly of the shaft means.The upper and lower disc members form a first friction unit and theintermediate disc member forms a second friction unit to frictionallyengage the disc members of the first friction unit. The journalingbearing means around the shaft means is connected to the inner "iceedges of one of the friction units, thereby to tilt the friction unit inunison with the tilting action of the spin assembly. Fastening means arealso provided to connect the outer edges of the other of the frictionunits to the bottom wall of an outer stationary tub provided for thewashing machine.

To enhance the friction snubbing action of the disc members a pluralityof circumferentially spaced friction pads mays be employed between thedisc members. Moreover, means are provided for retaining the upper andlower disc members in frictional engagement and in this connection aplurality of circumferentially spaced bolts are located between thefriction pads and extend between the upper and lower disc-members. Coilsprings can be utilized in connection with each of the bolts and athreaded nut means bottoms against each corresponding coil spring,thereby continuously to spring bias the upper and lower disc membersinto frictional engagement with the intermediate disc member. 7

Further to enhance the operation of the apparatus, the upper and lowerdisc units of the one disc unit are structurally tied together to form aunit moving at the same time and means are also provided to prevent thebolts from deflecting angularly relative to each other. Thisconstruction results in one in which the spring pressures remainsubstantially constant and uniform whereby there is provided a moreuniform snubbing action and one which is more effective than prior artdevices.

The disc members preferably have a spherical contour prescribed by aradius extending approximately to the fulcrum point of the tiltable spinassembly thereby facilitating tilting action of the spin assembly andefficient frictionsnubbing action of the centering and stabilizingmeans.

More precisely, the radius of the spherical friction surfaces isapproximately 10% less than the distance from the movably engagedsurfaces of the disc members to the fulcrum point of the til-table spinassembly. By virtue of such provision, the entire spin assembly willtend to be self-centering even though no centering springs are employed.

The centering and damping arrangement thus described permits thefriction surfaces to be spaced below the bottom of the tub so that anappreciable air space insulates the friction surfaces and the frictionpads from the high temperatures existing at the bottom of the tub andimparted thereto by hot water contained in the stationary tub.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide animproved washing machine and extractor wherein eccentric wobbling isminimized even when unevenly distributed loads are in the machine. v

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcentering and damping means for a bottom supported tiltable spinningassembly.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide improvedsealing means between a tiltable bottom supported spin assembly and thebot-tom wall of a stationary tub wherein resistance to lateraldisplacement of the spin assembly will be minimized while resistance totorque forces will be maximized.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest .to those versed in the art upon makingreference tothe detailed description which follows and the accompanyingsheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments of acombined washing machine and extractor are shown by way of illustrativeexamples.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, with parts broken away and with theparts shown in elevation, illustrating a combined washing machine andextractor provided in accordance with the principles of thepresentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view with parts shownin elevation, taken substantial-1y on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, with parts shown in elevation and withparts removed for the sake of clarity, taken substantially on the planeof line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on thebroken line 44 of FIG. 2.;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken sub-. stantially online 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 of a further and improvedembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 6.

As shown on the drawings, the combined washing machine and extractor ofthe present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10and comprises a stationary outer tub indicated generally at 11comprising an upper receptacle 12 having a bottom wall 13 and alsohaving a lower support section 14 forming a support frame and includinga cross arm 16.

A two directional electric motor 17 is fastened by means of brackets 18to the side walls of the support section 14 of the stationary tub 11 andhas a power takeoff shaft .19 carrying a pair of driving pulleysindicated at 20 and 21, respectively, which are driven by the motorthrough a slip clutch, not shown.

The connection between the motor 17 and the brackets 18 is preferablypivotal in nature, thereby permitting slack to be taken out of pulleybelts 22 and 23, respectively, by pivotal movement of the motor 17 withrespect to the brackets 18. Such pivotal movement is convenientlyeffected by means of a continuous biasing means taking the form of acoilspring 24 hooked at one end 26 to the lower base portion or frame ofthe stationary tub 11 and hooked at the other end 27 to a bracket arm 28associated with the electric motor 17 (FIG. 3).

As is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross arm 16 has a centrallydisposed aperture 28 receiving a generally cup-shaped retainer 29carrying at the bottom thereof a fiat strip 30 providing a bearingsurface 31 for a ball bearing 32.

A rotatable inner shaft 33 has a comically-shaped recess 34 formed inthe end thereof to provide a seating surface for receiving the ballbearing 32. The bottom end of the inner shaft 33 is surrounded by asleeve member 36'wl1ich, in turn, is resiliently retained within thegenerally cup-shaped member 29 by means of an annular resilient ring 37,which may. be conveniently made of rubher or a similar resilientmaterial. Thus, the lower shaft 33' is bottom supported for tiltingmovement relative to the outer stationary tub 11.

The inner shaft 33 projects upwardly from the cross arm 16 and projectsthrough the bottom wall 13 into the receptacle 12 of the outerstationary tub 11. As is shown in FIG. 1, the inner shaft 33 isconnected to an agitator 38 by means of a crank arm connection indicatedgenerally at 39. The crank arm 39 is journaled with respect to theagitator 38 by a sleeve bearing 46 whereupon rotation of the inner shaft33 will produce a bodily eccentric or orbital agitating movement of theagitator 38, such as disclosed in Patent No. 2,416,611. This movementresulting from the eccentricity between the inner shaft 33 and the crankarm 39 results in a constantly changing center of mass. To rotate theinner shaft 33, there is provided a pulley wheel 40 keyed to the innershaft 33 by the pin 41 and cooperating with the pulley belt 22 driven bythe drive pulley 29 on the power take-01f shaft 19 of the electric motor17.

A spin basket is provided for the combined washing machine and extractor10 and is indicated at 42. At the bottom of the spin basket 42 there isprovided a support bracket 43 which is locked in firm assembly to anoutershaft 44 by means of a key 46 and a lock nut 47. The

outer shaft 44 depends from the support bracket 43 and extends throughthe bottom wall 13 of the outer sta-. tionary tub 11 to a point adjacentthe pulley wheel 4%) on the inner shaft 33. A unidirectional clutchingdevice indicated generally at 48 interconnects the outer shaft 44 and apulley wheel 49 driven by the pulley belt 23 associated with the drivepulley 21 on the power take-off shaft 19 of the electric motor 17. Thus,whenever the two directional electric motor 17 is operated in a givendirection, the outer shaft 44 will be rotated and the spin basket willbe rotated in unison therewith to extract liquid from the materialcontained in the spin basket 42.

A deflector or baffle 56 is attached by means of a retaining ring 51 tothe outer shaft 44 immediately superjacent the unidirectional clutchingdevice 48, thereby to deflect any leaking fluid finding its Way alongthe shaft 44 radially outwardly of the clutching device 48.

It may be noted that the pulley wheel 49 is considerably smaller thanthe pulley wheel 40. Accordingly, even when the motor is operated insuch a direction as to rotate both the inner shaft and the outer shaft33 and 44, a difference in relative rotational speeds will occur. Thereis provided, therefore, between the inner shaft 33 and the outer shaft44 upper and lower bearing sleeves 52 and 53, respectively.

The bottom wall 13 of the outer stationary tub 11 is provided with acenter opening to accommodate the shaft means of the spin assembly. Inthe region of this opening and at a medial or intermediate portion ofthe shaft means, there is provided a journaling bearing means indicatedgenerally at 60. The journaling bearing means includes an upper sleeve61 and a lower sleeve 62 connected in firm assembly with one another bya plurality of fasteners 63. The lower sleeve 62 is in journalingrelationship relative to the outer shaft 44 by virtue of hearing sleevemeans indicated at 64 which are interposed between the outer shaft 44and the lower sleeve 62. A slip clutch indicated generally at 66 at thelower end of the lower member 62 insures that slippage will occurbetween the journaling bearing means 66 and the outer shaft 44.

Since a tension is maintained on the pulley belts 22 and 23, the forceexerted by the belt pull will tend to tip the spin assembly to one side.To counteract this belt pull, a compensating means is provided whichtakes the form of a turnbuckle and spring device indicated generally at67. The lower sleeve 62 has a boss 68 apertured at 69 to receive one end70 of a wire 71 connected at its other end 72 to a C-shaped body 73 of aturnbuckle. One leg of the c-shaped body 73 has a threaded aperture 74receiving a threaded book 76. A coil spring 77 has one end 78 engagedwith the hook 76 and the opposite 4 end of the coil spring 77 isindicated at 79 in engagement with a connecting bracket 81 carried infirm assembly with the lower support frame 14. The connecting brackethas a plurality of hook openings 82 (FIG. 3), thereby facilitatingselective alignment of the turnbuckle and spring device 67. In otherwords, the compensating force exerted by the turnbuckle and springdevice 67 may be adjusted relative to the alignment of the forcesexerted by the belt pull.

A sealing device is provided between the support bracket 43 on thebottom of the spin basket 42 and'the upper sleeve 61 of the journalingbearing means 60. The sealing device is indicated generally at 83 andcomprises a flexible rubber sleeve 84 having its upper end clamped intofirm assembly with the lower end of the support bracket 43 by a clampinghand 87. A nose ring 88 carried at the lower end of the sleeve 84 isurged into sealing engagement with a seal ring 90 carried 'at the upperend of the upper sleeve 61. The engagement between the nose ring 88 andthe seal ring 90 not only facilitates relative rotational movementtherebetween but insures an effective seal against leakage into theinterior of the journaling bearingmeans. This isparticularly desirablein the environment of a combined washing machine and extractor since itwill be appreciated that detergents and other cleansing agents utilizedin washing machines would have an adverse effecton the successfuloperation of bearing surfaces.

To effect a seal between the journaling bearing means 60 and the bottomwall 13 of the outer stationary tub 11, there is provided a flexiblesealing boot indicated generally at 92. The boot 92 may convenientlycomprise a flexible material such as rubber or the like and includes anupper portion 93 which may be clamped into firm sealing assembly withthe outer peripheral surface of the upper sleeve 61 by means of aclamping ring 94. Extending downwardly and outwardly from the ringportion 93 is an angularly inclined rib 96 which terminates in anacutely turned upwardly and outwardly extending rib 97. The rib 97, inturn, terminates in an acutely turned downwardly depending outerperipheral wall 98.

As will be noted upon inspecting the cross-sectional contour of the boot92, as shown in FIG. 1, the actual rib portions 96, 97 and 98 are ofrelatively thin cross section, however, the apical portions indicated bythe reference numeral 99 between the rib portions 96 and 97 and by thereference numeral 100' between the rib portion 97 and the wall portion98 have considerable body. There is thus provided vertically extendingcorrugations consisting of a plurality of concentrically pleatedportions which insure minimum resistance to lateral displacement of thetiltable spin assembly but which likewise insure maximum resistance totorque displacement forces.

The downwardly depending wall 98 terminates in an enlarged annular boss101 (see FIG. 2) suitably recessed to receive a flange 102 formed at theedges of the opening provided by the bottom wall 13. A clamping ring 103is further provided to insure firm assembly between the boss 101 of thesealing boot 92 and the bottom wall 13.

To further protect the bearing surfaces against the'possible leakage offluid handled by the washer, a rubber sealing ring 104 (FIG. 2) snuglyembraces the outer shaft 44 and carries a metal insert ring 106 whichoverlies and embraces a tongue 107 formed at the upper end of thebearing means 64 interposed between the journaling bearing means 60 andthe outer shaft 44. Moreover, it will be noted that the lower sleeve 62is provided with an upwardly extending annular ring 108 chamfered as at109 to provide a recess in which any fluid deflected by the seal ring104 will be directed between the upper and lower sleeve members 61 and62 of the journaling bearing means 60.

Positioned between the bottom wall 13 and the bottom support of the spinassembly is a centering and damping means indicated as a whole byreference character 110A. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 5, itwill be noted that an annular ring 110 is fastened in firm assembly withthe bottom wall 13 by means of spot welding or the like and is providedwith a downwardly extending dependent flange 111.

An annular disc-shaped member 112 having a vertically bent flange 113 atthe outer peripheral edge thereof is fastened in firm assembly to theflange 111 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced fastening means114.

Between the upper and lower sleeve members 61 and 62 of the journalingbearing means 60, there is provided an annular disc member 116vertically bent to' provide a downwardly extending ring portion 117 andgenerally radially outwardly bent to provide a surface 118.

The lower sleeve 62 is provided with an annular boss 119 to which areattached guide keys which may take the form of a plurality of screws120. A lower ring 121 having a radiallyoutwardly bent annular discmember 122 forming a part thereof is confined for limited movement bythe guide keys or screws 120 having portions slidably received in thevertical slots 121A in ring 121. This limited movement is desirable forthe better adjustment of the frictional damping force by springs 132, tobe described hereinafter. I

The upper disc member 118 is upwardly flared as at 123 and the lowerdisc member 122 is downwardly flared as at 124, thereby leaving thespace between the upper and lower disc members unobstructed.

By virtue of such provision, there are provided a plurality of frictionunits comprising three vertically stacked annular disc members which areconcentrically outwardly of thev shaft means so that the upper and lowerdisc members 118 and 122 comprise a first friction unit, and theintermediate disc member 112 constitutes a second friction unit.Moreover, it will be noted that the journaling bearing means around theshaft are connected to the inner edges of one of the friction unitsthereby to afford unison tilting thereof with the shaft means of thespin assembly, whereas the outer edges of the other .of the frictionunits is stationarily connected to the outer stationary tub. Thefrictional interrelationship of the three annular disc members insuresadequately damping of any eccentric wobbling action which might resultfrom an unevenly loaded spin assembly.

To enhance the operation of the damping mechanism, a

plurality of circumferentially spaced friction pads indicated at 126-are interposed between the upper and lower disc members 118 and 122 andthe intermediate disc member 11 2. The friction pads 126 convenientlycomprise such material as leather, cork or some other material similarto a brake lining composition.

To facilitate tilting action of the spin assembly, each of the discmembers 11?, 112 and 122 preferably have a spherical contour which isdescribed by a radius extending approximately from the relativelymovable surfaces of the disc members to the fulcrum point of thetiltable spin assembly. 1

In accordance with a particular feature of the present invention, thespherical contour of the disc surfaces is described by a radiusapproximately 10% less than the distance from the movably engagedsurfaces of the disc niembers to the fulcrum point of the tiltable spinassemb y. f It will be appreciated that lengthening the radius of thespherical disc surfaces to a greater length than the fulcrum arm wouldalso tend to give a corrective action and would be Within the scope ofthis invention.

In FIG. 2 there is shown by the legend Radius Arm to Fulcrum thedistance from the spherical disc surfaces to the fulcrum point of thespin assembly. There is also shown by the legend Foreshortened RadiusArm the radius of the spherical disc surfaces, which radius isapproximately 10% shorter than the distance from the disc surfacesto-the fulcrum point. Particularly good results have been obtained byemploying a disc surface radius which is foreshortened approximately 10%of the distance from the disc surfaces to the fulcrum point of thetiltable spin assembly. It is contemplated in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention, however, that the amount offoreshortening could be varied from approxi- .mately 5% to an upperlimit of approximately 15%.

The upper and lower disc members 118 and 122 are clamped together by aplurality of "cincumferentially spaced resiliently biased clamping bolts130. Each bolt has a head 131 engaged by the upper disc member 118 andeach bolt extends completely through the intermediate disc member 112and through the lower 'disc member 122. A coiled compression spring 132surrounds each bolt 130 and is bottomed against the lower disc member122. Retainer caps 133 may be provided for the springs 132 and the nuts134 are threaded on the ends of the bolts 130 to adjust the amount ofcontinuous and substantially constant force exerted by the springs 132to hold the friction limits in cooperative frictional engagement.

As is shown in FIG. 4, the bolts 130 are circumferen- 6 tially spaced inalternate relation relative to, the friction pads 126. Thus, the bolts1%- are disposed intermediate the friction pads. Moreover, theintermediate disc member 112 is provided with a corresponding pluralityof openings 136 to accommodate the bolts 13% upon relative movement ofthe friction units.

Under all normal conditions of operation, it is contemplated that thecentering and damping mechanism will adequately control any wobblingaction of the spin assembly, however, to insure against unforeseenconditions of operation, a safety cutout is provided to deenergize theelectric drive motor 17 upon excessive eccentric wobble of the spinassembly. It will be understood that the washer is provided with theusual electric circuitry for effecting an automatic washing andextracting cycle and in this circuitry will be incorporated suitableswitching means (not shown) for controlling the energization of themotor 17. In FIG. 3 in shown a linkage to actuate the switching means,the linkage being indicated generally at 14%) and including a pivotedlever arm 141 actuated by a bar or rod 142 normally spring biased by aspring 143 into a position in proximity to the friction unit carried bythe journaling bearing means 60. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5,the bar or rod 142 is slidably supported in a bracket 144 carried by theflange 111. An abutment 146 is carried on the end of the rod 142 andlies in predetermined spaced relationship to the flange 124 formed onthe lower disc member 122. Thus, if excessive gyration or wobbling ofthe spin assembly occurs, the flange 124 will strike the abutment 146and will move the rod 142 outwardly to pivot the pivot lever arm 141 andactuate the switching means to deenergize the motor 17.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the intermediate disc member 112 is providedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 150 which functionas drain holes, thereby further facilitating the removal of any leakagefluid interiorly of the rubber sealing boot 92.

In operation, the friction snubber action provided by the centering anddamping apparatus herein described retains the spin assembly in asubstantially stationary relation relative to the outer stationary tub.To displace the spin assembly requires a considerable displacing forceeven when such force is applied to the shaft near the top of the spinbasket 42 and when the spin assembly is stationary as it would be duringa washing portion of the cycle of operation of the machine 10. As soonas the spin assembly is set in rotation, however, the force required todisplace the spin asesmbly is considerably reduced. These forces may bein the range of about twelve pounds and about one and one-half to twopounds.

This phenomenon is exploited in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention to obtain a centering action without the use ofsprings. 7

It would appear that the reduction in lateral reaction force resultingwhen the spin assembly is rotated and the curvature provided on thefriction surfaces foreshortened from the actual radius arm to thefulcrum by approximately 10% results in a tendency of the spin assemblyto move towards a vertical center position. Since no centering springsor continuous biasing means are substantially effective, there is noappreciable store-up of energy, and consequently, any eccentric wobblingwill tend to be checked by the friction surfaces without beingaggravated by a release of stored up energy. The present invention isparticularly advantageous in a washing machine utilizing an agitatorhaving a bodily eccentric or gyratory movement and in which the agitatoris so moved during both the washing and spinning operations.

It has been found that the operation of the centering and stabilizingmeans can be improved even further by insuring that the so-called firstfriction unit including the upper and lower disc members are constrainedto move as a unit and in such manner that the bolts will not bedeflected when such movement occurs. An embodiment of this kind resultsin a more uniform frictional damping and which, as mentioned heretofore,has been found to be very eflicient in operation. This embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, to which reference will nowbe had.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be noted that only a part of theapparatus has been shown and parts like those in the embodiment alreadydescribed have been indicated by like reference characters. The frictiondisc member 112 remains the same in construction as that alreadydescribed. The friction discs of the other friction units are, however,different and have been indicated by the reference characters 200 and202. The upper friction disc 200 is secured in what might be called afloating manner to the journal bearing means by the securing screws orbolts 163. The floating mounting is provided by providing the centralinner portion 204 of the disc with apertures 206 through which the bolts163 pass and which are provided also to receive with some slightclearance silencing washers 208 which may be made of suitable materialsuch as leather or rubber. The central portion 204 of the disc 260 alsohas some clearance of vertical movement between the laterally extendingportions 210 and 212 of the bearing journal means 61 and 62.

The lower friction disc 202 has a downturned outer portion 212 and adownturned inner portion 214, the latter of which somewhat looselysurrounds the intermediate enlarged circular portion 216 of the journalmeans. The portion 214 is free to move downwardly and around the portion216 and it is prevented from making too close a contact with the portion216 by a rubber ring 218 located in an annular groove 220' provided onthe portion 216.

The friction assemblies are separated by the friction pads 126 as in thepreviously described embodiment of the invention. The friction discs 200and 202, however, in accordance with the present invention are tiedtogether to move as a unit with the bolts 130 and an annular plateindicated as a whole by reference character 224 which ties together forunitary movement the lower ends of the bolts 130.

The upper ends of the bolts 130 are secured to the upper friction disc200 by the squared bolt portions 226. The bolts are tied to the lowerfriction disc 202 by a rubber or other somewhat resilient mountingwashers 223 having one end projecting through an aperture 230 in thedisc 202. The disc 224 is tied to the bolt by the nuts 232 at thethreaded ends of the bolts and between which the disc 224 is securelyheld.

The friction disc assemblies are biased toward each other by the springs132, the opposite ends of which are located in the spring receiving cups234 and 236.

The operation of the apparatus of the second embodiment is substantiallythe same as that of the first described embodiment except that there isan improvement in operation. The improved operation results from thefact that the bolts 130 are prevented from deflecting and thuscompressing or alternately releasing the springs 132. There is thusprovided a substantially uniform damping force which is effectivethroughout the range of operation of the apparatus. In fact, theoperation has been found to be so efficient that out-of-balance loads offive or six pounds will not produce excessive vibration of the washingmachine.

While it will be appreciated by those versed in the art that variousminor structure modifications might be suggested in connection with thepreferred structural embodiments herein described, it should beunderstood that I wish to embody Within the scope of the patentwarranted hereon all suoh modifications as reasonably and properly comewithin the scope of my contribution to the art.

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is asfollows:

1. In a washing machine having a bottom supported a sence gyratorytiltable spin assembly including a rotatable shaft means, means forresisting tilting of the shaft means and comprising three verticallystacked annular spherical segmental disc members concentricallyoutwardly of the shaft means, the upper and lower disc members forming afirst friction unit and the intermediate disc member forming a secondfriction unit frictionally engaging the disc members of the firstfriction unit, journaling means around said shaft means connected to theinner edges of one of said friction units to tilt said one of saidfriction units in unison with the shaft means, and fastening meansadapted to connect the outer edges of the other of said friction unitsto a stationary support, the friction unit connected to said journalingunit having a floating connection therewith.

2. In a washing machine having a bottom supported gyratory tiltable spinassembly including a rotatable shaft means, means for resisting tiltingof the shaft means and consisting of three vertically stacked annularspherical segmental surface disc members concentrically outwardly of theshaft means, the upper and lower disc members forming a first frictionunit and the intermediate disc member forming a second friction unitfrictionally engaging the disc members of the first friction unit,journaling means around said shaft means connected to the inner edges ofone of said friction units to tilt said one of said friction units inunison with the shaft means, fastening means adapted to connect theouter edges of the other of said friction units to a stationary support,and means resiliently urging said friction units into engagement witheach other, said last mentioned means including a plurality of boltspassing through all the disc members in a direction substantially normalto the disc surfaces and being connected to said upper and lower discmembers and spaced from the intermediate disc member, a springsurrounding each bolts and having one end acting against the outersurface of one of said upper and lower disc members and the other endagainst a bolt, and said bolt acting against the outer surface of theother of said upper and lower disc members, and an annular discconnected to the ends of all said bolts.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a rotatable tub adapted toreceive a liquid and material to be washed, means including shaft meansfor rotating said tub to extract liquid from the material containedtherein, means for supporting said tub for gyratory tiliting movementabout a fulcrum point adjacent the end of said shaft means, meanscomprising cooperating movably engaged spherical friction surfacesdisposed between said tub and said supporting means adapted to resisttilting movement of said tub, said spherical friction surfaces beingdescribed by a radius 5% to 15% less than the distance from the movablyen aged surfaces to said fulcrum point.

4. In a washing machine, the combination of a rotatable tub adapted toreceive liquid and material to be washed, means including shaft meansfor rotating said tub to extract liquid from the material containedtherein, means for supporting said tub for gyratory tilting movementabout a point adjacent the lower end of said shaft means, a plurality offriction units having spherical surfaces and respectively connected tothe tub supporting means and stationary supporting means, bolts passingthrough said units engaged with only one of said units, spring meanssurrounding said bolts and pressing said units into frictionalengagement with each other, one end of each said bolt being connected toone of said friction units, and means for tying together the other endsof said bolts to prevent deflection of them.

5. In a Washing machine, the combination of a rotatable tub adapted toreceive a liquid and material to be washed, means including shaft meansfor rotating said tub to extract liquid from the material containedtherein, means for supporting said tub for gyratory tilting movementabout a point, means comprising cooperating stationary and movablyengaged spherical friction surfaces and spring means actingsubstantially normally to said surfaces for resisting til-ting movementof said tub, said spherical friction surfaces being described by aradius of about 5% to 15% different from the distance from the movablyengaged surfaces to said point.

6. In a washing machine, the combination of a rotatable tub adapted toreceive a liquid and material to be washed, means including shaft meansfor rotating said tub to extract liquid from the material containedtherein, means for supporting said tub for gyratory tilting movementabout a point, means comprising cooperating stationary and movablyengaged spherical friction surfaces for resisting tilting movement ofsaid tub, said spherical friction surfaces being described by a radiussubstantially different from the distance from the relatively movablesurfaces to said point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,633,039 Schenck June 21, 1927 2,035,481 Hume Mar. 31, 1936 2,161,604Watts June 6, 1939 2,513,844 Castner et al. July 4, 1950 2,645,108 SmithJuly 14, 1953 2,652,710 De Remer Sept. 22, 1953 2,709,908 Altorfer June7, 1955 2,793,757 McWethy May 28, 1957

